Autodesk 3ds Max 2021 Managing Scenes, Files, and Projects #527902

File-Handling Commands
The principal commands for handling files are found on the File menu.
File-Handling Apps and Utilities
There are several apps and utilities available that help you manage content and files:

• The 3ds Max Asset Library is a standalone app that allows you to quickly access 3D content on your local computer and network in a single view, making all content instantly searchable. You can download the app from the Autodesk App store.
• The Bitmap / Photometric Path Editor utility lets you view bitmap paths or remove them from the scene file.
• The File Finder is another resource for finding 3ds Max scenes.
• The Resource Collector copies or moves a scene's bitmaps into a single directory.
• The Fix Ambient utility resolves lighting issues with older versions of scene files.
• The Bitmap Pager Statistics dialog provides information that helps you resolve issues with scenes that require large amounts of memory for texture maps.
• The Substitute modifier lets you replace linked AutoCAD Architecture objects with native 3ds Max geometry and objects.

Image File Formats
You can use image file formats in a variety of ways: as textures for materials, as backgrounds to viewports, as background environments, as Image Input events in Video Post, and as images projected from a light. Similarly, 3ds Max can render to a number of popular image file formats.
External References (XRefs) to Objects and Scenes
External references to objects and scenes are another powerful way to manage a project, especially when it involves multiple contributors.